Conrad White

I have been aware of this local trail race for a few years but not previously been able to run. My son was up visiting, had just finished some significant exams that meant he had not trained over the last month but was up for the race. We had both done the Sedgefield parkrun the day before and as should be – he beat me. I was hoping I could be closer in this one with his lack of training.

There had been rain, so trail shoes were the order of the day. Previous years I think had been dry and road shoes have sufficed. The morning was bright and sunny and registration easy and friendly. There were a number of striders, so we were well represented. I had decided that it was likely to be slippery and to not go off too fast – which I managed to do. A nice gentle downhill on grass and into Hardwick park on good paths. It was then around and between the edges of fields with thin slippery mud. I had done Geoff’s XC training at the Woodland trust a few days before and remembered the instruction “just to run straight through” – shoes will get muddy anyway so might as well plunge in from the start. After about 3 miles of undulations I could see my son ahead and getting closer – that spurred me on. The return 3 miles were tending to be less muddy and more through trees and in general more downhill. With less than a mile to go, and we were in Hardwick park again, I caught him up. He was not, however, going to let me past and with more youthful legs was able to keep ahead and outpace me for the finish. I suspect this is as close as I will ever get to beating him now.

There was a welcome cake stall (the bbq from previous years did not occur) and prize presentation (bottles of wine – one of which I was able to claim, as did Jan as age group winners).

A lovely local well organised friendly multi terrain run. I think due to conditions underfoot, times were slightly slower this year – so maybe next year I could aim for a PB?